The China Import and Export Fair, commonly known as the Canton Fair, kicked off its 139th session in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, on Wednesday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The China Import and Export Fair, commonly known as the Canton Fair, kicked off its 139th session in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, on Wednesday, drawing a record number of over 32,000 participating enterprises.

The China Import and Export Fair, commonly known as the Canton Fair, kicked off its 139th session in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, on Wednesday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The number of exhibition zones during the fair has increased to 179, including nine new sections covering smart wearables, display technologies, consumer drones, modular houses, and garden facilities, according to the event's organizers. Over 12,000 companies have set up booths during the fair's first of three phases.

The China Import and Export Fair, commonly known as the Canton Fair, kicked off its 139th session in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, on Wednesday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

This session's first phase includes five sections across 19 exhibition zones, covering electronics and appliances, industrial manufacturing, lighting and electrical, hardware tools, and vehicles and two-wheelers.

The China Import and Export Fair, commonly known as the Canton Fair, kicked off its 139th session in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, on Wednesday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Established in 1957, the fair is the longest-running of several comprehensive international trade events in China, and has been hailed as the barometer of China's foreign trade.